BUYING YOUR SINS AND TRANSGRESSIONS
In this study we would like to examine what was blotted out by the cross. It is written in Colossians 2 that… “you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” (Colossians 2:13, 14)
When you look up the Greek word in that verse for “handwriting of ordinances”, it is the word Cheirographon which can also be translated to “bond” or “debt”.
The Bible tells us that “the WAGES of sin is death” (Rom 6:23) Wages are something you receive when you work. These wages however are worse than a poor mans wages and they can create a huge debt.
Paul tells us in the next chapter “I had not known sin but by the law.” (Rom 7:7) and also says that when he “was in the flesh” (Verse 5) he was “SOLD UNDER SIN” (Verse 14) In other words he was a bondslave, and the PRICE needed to be PAID. The word REDEEMED means to BUY or PAY for something. When we go to a store we are using money to REDEEM things.
Isaiah 44:22 says: “I have BLOTTED out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud,THY SINS: return unto me; for I have REDEEMED thee.”
So what was blotted out? Your sins and transgressions. Jesus paid the price or REDEEMED us by being nailed to the cross. So what did he nail to the cross? Some believe that he nailed the law to the cross. But it wasn’t the law as some teach, it was our sins, and our penalty that comes with sin. DEATH. He nailed DEATH to the cross. And that is the DEBT and WAGES that he paid for.
2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath ABOLISHED DEATH, and hath brought life and immortality to LIGHT through the GOSPEL:
But many today are blinded to what was ABOLISHED. Notice how that men are BLINDED from seeing this GLORIOUS LIGHT of the GOSPEL.
2 Corinthians 3:13, 14, 4:3, 4 “And not as Moses, which put a VAIL over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were BLINDED: for until this day remaineth the same VAIL untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which VAIL is done away in Christ… But if our gospel be hid (VAILED), it is hid (VAILED) to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath BLINDED the minds of them which believe not, lest the LIGHT of the glorious GOSPEL of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.This is revealing. But no matter how GLORIOUS it is, it still isn’t seen. Many when reading the Old Testament are BLINDED to understanding and seeing the love of God in the law. They see only condemnation, sometimes an angry God, and they fail to see mercy, love, and redemption. They fail to understand what was abolished by the cross.
Gal 3:13 Christ hath REDEEMED us from the CURSE of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, CURSED is every one that hangeth on a tree:Some have felt that they were condemned by the law, and so therefore they nail the law to the cross so that they can clear their conscience as if it were a curse to keep the law. But the Bible isn’t saying Cursed is anyone who does the law. In fact, notice what Paul says in verse 10 of this same chapter.
Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
The curse is brought upon us when we try of ourselves and our own works without Christ to fulfill the law. Without the gospel and an understanding of “Christ crucified.”(Gal 3:1) The law is powerless. The light of the glorious gospel must be seen and beheld. (2 Cor 3:17, 18) And then the law is fulfilled. As John the Baptist said “Behold the lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) It doesn’t say to behold the lamb of God that taketh away the law of God.
Jesus was nailed to the cross, and redeemed the curse. Or paid for the curse of the law. Is there a curse for not doing the things written in the law still? Absolutely. The opposite of cursed is a blessing, and as the word says:
Deu 11:26-28 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
There is no blessing for breaking the commandments or law. We are further told in the final verses of the Bible:
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Therefore, cursed are they that don’t do His commandments. What God cursed 4000 years ago is still cursed today. As Jesus himself said:
Mat 5:17-18 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
If the law could have been changed when Jesus came, why did Jesus have to die for such a flimsy law. You see, God’s law is perfect, it is an expression of God’s love. And when seen in its right light, and with an understanding of mans sinful nature and God’s love, the grace of God will transform us into obedient and loving servants who will “fulfill the law.” (Rom 8:4) Just as Jesus did. (Matt 5:17)
What then was Against us?
Paul said that something that was “against us” was “blotted out”. The Book of Deuteronomy tells us what was against us:
Deu 31:24-26 And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying, Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.
The same book of the law, that has a curse will witness “against us” when we break it. If we read it we will find that when we break the law it will testify against us. The law starts in Deuteronomy 5 with the ten commandments. If you have other gods before you, that book of the law will witness against you, the same if you are guilty of idolatry, blasphemy, dishonoring your parents, murder, adultery, stealing, lying or coveting. All of these commandments are written in this book of the law and they witness “against you”. (Deuteronomy 5:1-22)
There are other statutes given throughout this book that explain these ten. This book of the law consists almost entirely of moral law. There is hardly a mention of the sacrificial or ceremonial law in this book. The judgment for breaking this law was death. Now in an effort to rid ourselves of the penalty of the law which was signaled forth in the sacrifices and offerings which did point to the death of our saviour. Some have taken the effort of nailing not only the penalty or curse to the cross, but they have thought to nail the entire book of the law and even the blessing to the cross.
Nailing the BLESSING to the CROSS
Genesis 2:3 And God BLESSED the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Psa 119:1 ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
Some have believed that God nailed the Sabbath to the cross because it is used in context with Colossians 2:14 and what was “blotted out” and “nailed to the cross.” We read in verse 16 that it says:
Colossians 2:16-17 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things TO COME; but the body is of Christ.
Some when reading this verse have nailed these things to the cross believing that they were shadows that pointed to the cross. But Paul in this verse is speaking in another way, and pointing to larger gatherings in the promised land TO COME. Notice what is still “TO COME”
Isa 66:22-23 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it SHALL COME to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.If we will be keeping Sabbaths and New Moons in the New Heaven and earth, how can they be abolished and nailed to the cross. Clearly these are not what Paul is saying is ABOLISHED.
Shadows and the Reality
A shadow is something that points forward to a reality. As I cast my shadow to the ground, the shadow is an indication that their is a reality, a real living person. Circumcision was a shadow of the reality of cutting off the flesh and living in the Spirit. Just as baptism symbolizes the same thing.
Colossians 2:11-12 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
But then so also were the sacrifices a shadow of what was done on the cross. Christ being “nailed to the cross.” (Col 2:14) His sacrifice is the reality. And Christ gave the disciples something to do in remembrance of the cross. He gave them another shadow or symbol of that reality. 
LIFE GIVING Meat and Drink on Sabbaths and New Moons
John 6:53-55 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no LIFE in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is MEAT indeed, and my blood is DRINK indeed.
If we eat his flesh Jesus told us we would have LIFE. There is but one other thing in the Bible that we can eat and have eternal LIFE. It is the Tree of Life. Now follow me here as all these things connect to Colossians 2:14-16. Speaking of the New Heaven and Earth where we will be keeping Sabbaths and New Moons, it is written.
Revelation 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of LIFE, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
The word for MONTH in that verse actually means “New Moon”. Back in those days, they didn’t have July, August, etc. Those months came from Rome, Julius, Augustus, the Caesars. But before the modern day calendar, they used the sun, moon and stars to determine what day, month, and year it was. (Gen 1:14) God gave this as a calendar at creation.
Genesis 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
The word for “seasons” in this verse is the same word used to mean “feasts” in Leviticus 23:2. God gave the moon to determine the month. The moonth. So when John said “month” in Revelation 22, he meant the New Moon, when the New Fruit on the Tree would be ready. 12 manner of fruits, one for each month or new moon.
So the tree of life symbolizes the same thing as the meat and drink of Christs life which will be done every new moon in heaven. Should we then be doing this on the new moon today?
Let No Man Judge You
And so God is not saying that he nailed the Sabbaths, New Moons, and Holy days or feasts to the cross, and to let no man judge you whether you keep them or not. The feasts were being kept by the Colossians, but they were keeping the Lord’s Supper in place of the sacrifices which are to be offered at the times of the Evening and Mornings, Sabbaths, New Moons and Holy Days. (See Numbers 28, 29)
And because the Colossians were not doing sacrifices, but instead recognizing Christ as their sacrifice by the meat and drink of the Lord’s supper, they were being judged. You see Paul clarified this with the Corinthians as well concerning their feasts. He said:
1 Corinthians 5:7, 8 …. Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast…
Christ was “nailed to the cross.” (Col 2:14) And Christ has caused “Sacrifices and offerings to cease.” (Dan 9:27) But as for the assembly times of the Lord as they are called in the Old Testament. The Bible is clear about them. “let us keep the feast”. The opposite is “let us NOT keep the feast.”
There are many today who are saying the opposite of THIS WORD. God once said “Thou shall surely die” and the devil came along saying “thou shall NOT surely die.” We need to ask ourselves, what does the word of the Lord say? Are the Sabbaths, New Moons and Holy days nailed to the cross? Or are they still appointed times to come together and eat and drink the MEAT AND DRINK of the LIFE of Christ.
Remember, the tree of LIFE is where we will eat every New Moon. And the “meat and drink” symbolizes the very LIFE of Christ which we should consider every New Moon. And the bride of Christ has her FEET on the moon. (Rev 12:1) The Lord ordained another ceremony with that MEAT and DRINK. And that is the FOOT WASHING. This ordinance connects to the moon as well, the New Moons. You see this woman is pregnant, but after birth takes place, her monthly time is needed to cleanse the body of impurities. Just as the blood of Christ cleanses the body of Christ. God’s people today need to come together each new moon in a time of humility. Putting away differences.
If you have read this article and find that you would like to come together and contemplate the LIFE of Christ every NEW MOON, or you have more questions, please get back to me and share. I am considering having monthly meetings, possibly online, and would love to hear back from those who are interested.
Many are nailing the blessing to the cross and not the curse. (Gal 3:13)
Heb 10:24-25 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Summary:
1. Christ blotted out our Sin
2. The Law of God Witnesses Against us when We SIN.
3. The wages are Death, and need to be PAID
4. Christ REDEEMED or PAID the WAGES
5. There is a Blessing for keeping God’s law, and a Curse for breaking it.
6. Christ nailed the Curse to the TREE or Cross.
7. The Meat and Drink on Sabbaths New Moons and Holy Days Shadows forth the New Moons at the Tree of Life.
8. They are Shadows of things TO COME, it SHALL COME that we will worship on these days.
9. The Womans Feet on the Moon are another symbol of the monthly cleansing the Body of Christ needs.
10. Paul never said “Let us NOT keep the Feast.” He said the OPPOSITE.
